Wednesday, April 25, 2012

After months of trying to figure out what I wanted, and then figuring it out that that was not what I wanted, I finally buckled down and hired Designer Blogs and they were amazing to work with. I can't say enough good about them. I love my new site..and you will see some fun things added in the next few days (like a newsletter..yay!). Head on over, check it out, and bookmark it. This site will soon be redirected there automatically, but I just wanted to give you a heads up before then.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

With Cinco de Mayo coming up, I thought I'd share some of my favorite recipes for the big day! Mexican food has always been my favorite, and I would love to share some of my favorites I have made with you. This week, salsa is the star! There are many different ways to whip up a batch of salsa, and the ingredients can vary from anything from tomatoes and cilantro to strawberries and apples! I love the possibilities...hope you can use a few of these at your Cinco de Mayo parties!

Combine whole tomatoes, Rotel, onion, jalapeno, garlic, sugar, salt, cumin, lime juice, and cilantro in a blender or food processor. Pulse until you get the salsa to the consistency you’d like—I do about 10 to 15 pulses. Test seasonings with a tortilla chip and adjust as needed.

Refrigerate salsa for at least an hour. Serve with tortilla chips or cheese nachos.

Next, a recipe I got from our ward's cooking club. It is really tasty, and the secret in the dressing...balsamic vinegar! It adds a yummy tanginess that is addicting. It is easy to put together and will be a sure crowd pleaser and your summer parties.

Mix all of the ingredients together in a medium bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let the salsa marinate for a few hours (or overnight before serving). Drain most of the liquid from the salsa before serving. Serve with tortilla chips.

Recipe Source: our ward's cooking club.....via Jessica N.

Next up, a yummy salsa with some fabulous fresh ingredients that everyone loves. My family has this for get togethers all year 'round. It is packed with one of my all-time favorite ingredients....cilantro! Hope you enjoy it as much as we do :)

Next, something a little different. This isn't your average guacamole. This is avocado feta salsa. Ok...maybe it's a stretch, but I'm including it because of how tasty it is!

I just love feta. I throw it on almost every salad I ever make. It is yummy in pasta dishes. Now, I am throwing it in my dips! Avocados are definitely affordable this time of year, so I thought it was a good opportunity to try this yummy recipe finally. It turned out very yummy, and were great with these pita chips.

So make a batch of this up next time you are headed out the door for a BBQ, your friends and family will love it! Not to mention you don't have to feel the guilt about eating a mayo or sour cream based dip. Enjoy :)

In a bowl, stir together the chopped tomato, avocados, garlic, and oregano (and 1/4 cup red onion, if you like). Gently stir in olive oil and white wine vinegar. Stir in feta. Chill for at least a couple hours.

Lastly, why not share a fruity type salsa! This one I came across and was immediately sucked in by the idea. Pineapple salsa...why not! Depending on how spicy or sweet you want it, just add less jalapeno. It goes great along your favorite tacos, burritos, or enchiladas.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Can a treat that simply has 2 ingredients be considered a recipe? Either way..here is one of my favorite yummy quick desserts that everyone in my family loves!

Simply get a bag of Cinnamon Bears and a bag of milk chocolate chips. (I like Hershey's the best). Melt the chocolate in the microwave, and then hold the bears head while you dip the body. Place on a piece of wax paper or foil and let harden...if it even makes it to the foil!

Friday, April 20, 2012

Wow..can you believe it has been another week again?! Welcome, if you are here for the first time. Hope you will stay and look around for a bit! I was so excited when I heard that Week 2 forProject Run and Play was Sportswear. The first thing that came to my mind was a modern, yet vintage golfer. Funny how my brain works sometimes, but I ran with it, and this is what I came up with:

My husband was the genius behind the name of the outfit this week. Don't you love it?

My biggest goal this week was to make the clothes comfortable, interchangeable, and easy to move in.

When I was a little girl, I wore knickers constantly. I love them because you can wear them in the spring and summer with no socks or in the winter and fall with socks and they work! The knickers were made from a lightweight cotton (we do live in Las Vegas, so I wanted to make sure my daughter could wear them year round!). I added the button detailing on front to give it more of a vintage feel and they ended up being one of my favorite details! I also adore the button closures at the knee.

Next up is the shirt. It was made with a lightweight knit, so I doubled it so it wasn't transparent. It is a very simple shirt, but by far my favorite detail is the pleating detail I put on the shoulder. I love that she can wear this plain as well and show that off!

Last we have a sweet little vest. I knew I wanted to pleat the bottom and by lining it in a contrasting fabric, you can catch little glimpses as she moves..love that! This was made from a t shirt pattern. I left off the sleeves and then cut the front right down the middle and then made the new shape!

Lastly I made some sweet hair accessories and a belt that coordinated and brought everything together. These belts are so fun to make. You can find my tutorial for them HERE. They are so great to add to any outfit for a pop of color.

And here are a few outtakes from the shoot. My daughter had such a great time swinging that vintage wooden club around.

Not a bad swing form for a 3 year old, right?! (Maybe I'll get to make more golfing outfits in the future...):)

So there you have it..a bit of what went into this week. I'd LOVE your vote over at Project Run and Play. You can vote through Sunday evening!